Simplified fun

Rating: 7/10 (20 July 2009)

I don't know how many have seen Parts: The Clonus Horror, and I'll try to be vague, so that nothing is spoiled for anyone who has only watched one or the other. Hasn't this concept been treated in a short story? Anyway, obviously Bay makes a prettier and more epic movie, which is quite impressive, considering that it's "hit you over the head with a stark red billboard"-obvious that he is working from a palette with only the colors of black and white(heck, *literally*, in some cases, here) in putting this together. He's so busy making it clear to the viewers who the bad guys are that he wastes just short of all potential to actually be making any important, interesting and memorable points and arguments in this charged debate. I'd say he thinks he does better than he really does, as far as making his case. But hey, mainstream audiences are a sensitive mass of people, easily spooked. And who knows, maybe people will wind up thinking about the issue based on this. Oh, look at that. Pigs flying. Anyway, yes, it's got excellent effects. It's never boring, and generally well-paced. There is genuine tension, and this is entertaining and riveting. The acting is great, and the action is cool. Cinematography and editing are top-notch. The comic relief can be cringe-inducing, as can at least a couple of the clichés. Overall, the writing isn't bad, and when they aren't sacrificing common sense for the sake of foreboding and/or stereotyping, this does a nice enough job. The explanations work out, for the most part. Characters are credible and reasonably developed. The dialog varies. There is a little sexuality, strong language and violence. This doesn't feel terribly toned down. The DVD has a fifteen minute long "making of" featurette, with interviews and behind the scenes footage, and it's worth a look. I recommend this to fans of Michael, and to a somewhat lesser extent, anyone else involved in making it. 7/10